Deck 15: Psychological Disorders

Question 1

Diagnosis is to etiology as

A) where is to when.
B) when is to where.
C) why is to what.
D) what is to why.

Answer 1

what is to why.

Question 2

Behavior that does not coincide with cultural norms may be considered to be

A) deviant.
B) maladaptive.
C) personally distressing.
D) insane.

Answer 2

deviant.

Question 3

When a psychologist compares the symptoms an individual is experiencing to the symptoms of various disorders to determine the specific disorder the individual has,the psychologist is concerned with

A) etiology.
B) prognosis.
C) diagnosis.
D) treatment.

Answer 3

diagnosis.

Question 4

Mario has just entered treatment for a major depressive episode.He is told that most patients respond to treatment within a month,and many never experience a second depressive episode.This information represents

A) an etiology.
B) a prognosis.
C) a diagnosis.
D) a histology.

Question 5

The rise of the medical model in the study of psychopathology brought about

A) improvements in the treatment of individuals who exhibited abnormal behavior.
B) an increase in the number of asylums for the treatment of the mentally ill.
C) an increase in misconceptions about mental disorders.
D) decreases in the expression of sympathy towards the mentally ill.

Question 6

Behavior that interferes with an individual's social or occupational functioning may be considered to be

A) deviant.
B) maladaptive.
C) personally distressing.
D) insane.

Question 7

The medical model of abnormal behavior proposes that

A) abnormal behaviors are very similar to physical diseases.
B) abnormal behaviors are best treated by medical doctors.
C) it is useful to think of abnormal behavior as a disease.
D) it is useful to think of abnormal behaviors as being caused by infectious agents.

Question 8

The apparent causation and developmental history of an illness is referred to as its

A) etiology.
B) epidemiology.
C) diagnosis.
D) prognosis.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is MOST accurate?

A) Stereotypes about mental illness are largely positive.
B) Negative stereotypes about mental illness do not generally contribute to stigma about mental illess.
C) Stigmatization of mental illness has remained stable over many years.
D) People with mental illness seldom have social problems once they have recovered.

Question 10

Walter is only able to achieve sexual arousal by dressing in women's clothing.In the American culture his behavior would MOST likely be considered

A) maladaptive.
B) personally distressing.
C) delusional.
D) deviant.

Question 11

Dr.Wedge is asking her newest client questions about his life history.She is particularly interested in any recent stressful events that the client may have experienced.Dr.Wedge is currently

A) developing a prognosis for her client.
B) trying to determine an appropriate diagnosis.
C) trying to understand the etiology of her client's current illness.
D) engaged in naturalistic observation.

Question 12

Dr.Cummings believes that psychological disorders can be diagnosed,treated,and possibly cured,just like physical illnesses.Dr.Cummings' views reflect the point of view suggested by

A) the medical model of abnormal behavior.
B) the behavioral model of abnormal behavior.
C) the deviance model of abnormal behavior.
D) the psychodynamic model of abnormal behavior.

Question 13

Dr.Underhill is reviewing the records from a patient who has just been referred for treatment.He is carefully considering the symptoms that have been documented,and is attempting to identify the type of psychological disorder the individual is most likely to have.Dr.Underhill is currently focusing on

A) etiology.
B) prognosis.
C) diagnosis.
D) histology.

Question 14

The terms "mental illness" and "psychopathology" are MOST closely associated with which model of abnormal behavior?

A) the learning model
B) the humanistic model
C) the medical model
D) the psychodynamic model

Question 15

Prior to the 18th century,people who exhibited abnormal behavior were thought to be

A) possessed by evil spirits and were treated through exorcism.
B) mentally ill and were treated through exorcism.
C) mentally ill and were treated through verbal psychotherapy.
D) possessed by evil spirits and were treated through drug therapy.

Question 16

Randall is an alcoholic who has been fired from four jobs in the past year,but he is not concerned because he feels that there are lots of other jobs available.In this example,the fact that Randall's alcoholism affects his occupational status would MOST likely be considered

A) personally distressing.
B) maladaptive.
C) culturally deviant.
D) legal incompetency.

Question 17

A prognosis

A) is a forecast about the probable course of an illness.
B) involves distinguishing one illness from another.
C) refers to the apparent causation and developmental history of an illness.
D) is a plan for treating an illness.

Question 18

Summer has anorexia nervosa and is slowly starving herself to death.However,when friends or family tell her to seek professional help,she tells them that she feels fine.She can't understand why people won't just leave her alone.In this example,Summer's eating disorder would MOST likely be considered

A) personally distressing.
B) culturally deviant.
C) maladaptive.
D) delusional.

Question 19

A major criticism of the medical model made by Thomas Szasz is that

A) no evidence exists to support the efficiency of the medical model's treatment approaches.
B) the model is not well understood by its practitioners.
C) uniformity of behavior patterns cannot be established from the medical model viewpoint.
D) most abnormal behavior reflects a moral judgment about what is socially acceptable or unacceptable behavior.

Question 20

According to the medical model,

A) all mental illnesses are caused by biological factors.
B) all mental illnesses can be treated using drugs.
C) abnormal behavior can be thought of as a disease.
D) all physical illnesses have a psychological component.

Question 21

The most common psychological disorders in the United States are

A) schizophrenic disorders.
B) personality disorders.
C) mood disorders.
D) substance use disorders.

Question 22

Thomas Szasz would be most critical of the commonly used criterion to diagnose psychological disorders that relates to

A) deviance.
B) maladaptive behavior.
C) personal distress.
D) cognitive confusion.

Question 23

Alvin suffers from both major depression and generalized anxiety disrder.Alvin's diagnoses illustrate that mental disorders can be

A) categorical
B) comorbid
C) confounded
D) epidemiological

Question 24

Frequently people call a psychologist for assistance after "deciding for themselves" that they need help.People would be MOST likely to use which two of the commonly used criteria for psychological disorders when deciding to seek treatment?

A) personal distress and deviance.
B) maladaptive behavior and personal distress.
C) cognitive confusion and maladaptive behavior.
D) deviance and cognitive confusion.

Question 25

Treit's best friend was seriously injured in a car accident last month.Since that time Treit has been attending all his classes,but he feels like he is unable to pay attention because he is constantly thinking about his friend.Treit finds he can't seem to think about anything else,and he is frequently overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness.In this example,Treit's feelings would MOST likely be considered

A) personally distressing.
B) culturally deviant.
C) maladaptive.
D) compulsive.

Question 26

Using the DSM-IV,estimates of the current level of the patients functioning would be recorded on

A) Axis I.
B) Axis V.
C) Axis X.
D) Axis II.

Question 27

The biggest issue with respect to the DSM diagnostic approach is

A) assumptions about nonoverlapping diagnoses
B) the inclusion of dissociative disorders
C) the inclusion of substance use disorders
D) the overreliance on a dimensional approach

Question 28

The study of the incidence and distribution of mental or physical disorders within a population defines the discipline known as

A) etiology.
B) epidemiology.
C) psychobiology.
D) demography.

Question 29

The DSM classification system is said to be "multiaxial." This means that the system

A) permits multiple diagnoses of a single individual.
B) asks for judgments about individuals on numerous separate dimensions.
C) allows many different potential methods of diagnosing people.
D) is characterized by poor reliability.

Question 30

Roger enjoys gambling so much that he does it every day,totally neglecting his family and job.Roger's behavior satisfies which criterion of abnormality MOST clearly?

A) personal distress
B) deviance
C) persistence
D) maladaptive behavior

Question 31

Epidemiology is the study of

A) the distribution of mental or physical disorders in a population.
B) treatments for psychological disorders.
C) sudden "epidemics" involving specific mental or physical disorders.
D) how cultural values affect judgments of abnormality.

Question 32

Using the DSM-IV,disorders of mood would be recorded on

A) Axis I.
B) Axis III.
C) Axis IV.
D) Axis X.

Question 33

DSM-IV uses five "axes" to describe a person's problem.The actual diagnosis of a disorder is made on

A) Axis I only.
B) Axis II only.
C) Axis I and II.
D) Axis V.

Question 34

Behavior that causes anxiety or concern for the affected individual may be considered to be

A) deviant.
B) maladaptive.
C) personally distressing.
D) insane.

Question 35

Tom displays very odd behavior.He wears a heavy parka and mittens during the summer and lectures from the steps of City Hall about upcoming invasions by men from outer-space.Most likely,Tom has a psychological disorder since his behavior meets the criterion of

A) deviance.
B) maladaptive behavior.
C) personal distress.
D) cognitive confusion.

Question 36

Jefferson has gone in for a psychiatric assessment.He tells the clinician that he has been feeling detached from his surroundings since he started taking medication to control his high blood pressure.The clinician would use

A) either Axis I or Axis II of the DSM-IV to record this medical information.
B) both Axis IV and Axis V of the DSM-IV to record this medical information.
C) Axis X of the DSM-IV to record this medical information.
D) Axis III of the DSM-IV to record this medical information.

Question 37

Which of the following is a common stereotype about psychological disorders?

A) Psychological disorders are curable.
B) Psychological disorders are a function of biophysiological factors.
C) People with psychological disorders are violent and dangerous.
D) People with psychological disorders are not very different from normal people.

Question 38

Wesley has gone in for a psychiatric assessment.He tells the clinician that he has been feeling apprehensive and edgy for the last month,but so far his anxiety hasn't seemed to have had a major impact on either his job or his home life.The clinician should use

A) both Axis III and Axis IV of the DSM-IV to record Wesley's current level of global functioning.
B) Axis V of the DSM-IV to record Wesley's current level of global functioning.
C) either Axis I or Axis II of the DSM-IV to record Wesley's current level of global functioning.
D) not bother recording Wesley's current level of functioning because Wesley's symptoms do not meet the criteria for abnormality.

Question 39

Dr.Smith is a psychiatrist who argues that different diagnoses represent similar underlying psychological symptoms.Dr.Smith is therefore likely to argue for a _________ approach to diagnosis.

A) comorbid
B) categorical
C) dimensional
D) epidemiological

Question 40

If a psychological disorder results in an individual having difficulty completing routine or necessary everyday activities,the individual's behavior would MOST likely be considered

A) personally distressing.
B) incompetent.
C) maladaptive.
D) deviant.

Question 41

Selena constantly thinks about climbing up the stairs to the roof of her building and jumping into the street below.Selena's uncontrollable thoughts could be considered an example of

A) an obsession.
B) a compulsion.
C) a hallucination.
D) a delusion.

Question 42

The disorder that is characterized by worry and fear,muscle tension,trembling,faintness,and difficulty in concentrating is known as a

A) conversion disorder.
B) paranoid disorder.
C) dissociative disorder.
D) generalized anxiety disorder.

Question 43

While walking through a shopping center,you suddenly have an intense feeling of dread,notice your heart beating strongly,feel like you are suffocating,and find yourself running for the nearest exit.You would be exhibiting symptoms of

A) mania.
B) acrophobia.
C) schizophrenia.
D) panic disorder.

Question 44

A college student faced with upcoming exams and term papers responds to his resulting feelings of anxiety by reorganizing his notes,rearranging his bookshelves,cleaning out his desk drawer,and straightening up his closet.He would be showing symptoms of

A) claustrophobia.
B) psychogenic fugue.
C) disorganized schizophrenia.
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 45

Using the DSM-IV listings and lifetime prevalence,it is estimated that ____ of the population will experience a psychological disorder at some time in their lives.

A) less than 10 percent
B) approximately 27 percent
C) approximately 44 percent
D) close to 60 percent

Question 46

Dave washes his hands at least 50 times per day,even though his hands are rarely dirty.Dave's behavior is an example of

A) an obsession.
B) a phobia.
C) a compulsion.
D) a delusion.

Question 47

Maria is afraid to leave her home to go shopping or even go to work; she avoids all public places.Maria suffers from a disorder known as

A) agoraphobia.
B) brontophobia.
C) simple phobia.
D) claustrophobia.

Question 48

Epidemiological studies of psychological disorders suggest that

A) nearly everyone who needs treatment for psychological disorders receives it.
B) epidemics involving psychological disorders are common.
C) psychological disorders are more common than many people realize.
D) there has been a significant decrease in prevalence rates of mental illness in the United States in recent years.

Question 49

Grayson seems to be preoccupied with the possibility that he might miss an important message from someone in his family.He checks for new messages on his answering machine every 15 minutes.Grayson's constant checking for messages could be considered an example of

A) an obsession.
B) a hallucination.
C) a delusion.
D) a compulsion.

Question 50

The anxiety disorder in which an individual experiences numerous emotional attacks characterized by overwhelming terror that occur suddenly and unexpectedly is known as

A) a generalized anxiety disorder.
B) a phobic disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) panic disorder.

Question 51

All of the following are considered anxiety disorders EXCEPT

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) conversion disorder.
C) phobic disorder.
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 52

The cartoon character Charlie Brown,with his extreme dread,pessimism,worrying,and brooding,could be diagnosed as having

A) a generalized anxiety disorder.
B) a phobic disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) panic disorder.

Question 53

An unwanted thought that repeatedly intrudes upon an individual's consciousness is called

A) a delusion.
B) an obsession.
C) a compulsion.
D) a hallucination.

Question 54

Ann is so terrified of fire that she cannot light a match or even enjoy dinner by candlelight.Ann is most likely suffering from

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) panic disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) phobic disorder.

Question 55

Which of the following is NOT one of the three most common types of psychological disorders?

A) mood disorders
B) schizophrenia
C) substance (alcohol and drug) use disorders
D) anxiety disorders

Question 56

Stuart feels like he has been worrying constantly for the past 4 months.He is worried about making his car payments,losing his job,and how his children are doing in school.He has also started to experience dizziness and occasional heart palpitations.In this case,Stuart's symptoms are MOST consistent with

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) panic disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) hypochondriasis.

Question 57

A person who checks his alarm clock 20 times before going to sleep is being

A) compulsive.
B) obsessive.
C) phobic.
D) amnesiac.

Question 58

In regard to psychological disorders,prevalence refers to

A) the percentage of a population that exhibits a disorder during a specified time period.
B) the absolute number of people who are experiencing any psychological disorder at a given point in time.
C) the reliability of the diagnosis of psychological disorders.
D) the percentage of a population that has ever been treated for a psychological disorder.

Question 59

Elise is so terrified of enclosed places that she had to quit her new job because her office had no windows.She knows that her fear is irrational,but she can't seem to control her anxiety.In this case,Elise's symptoms are most consistent with

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) a phobic disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) a conversion disorder.

Question 60

The difference between a phobia and a normal fear is that a phobia

A) involves a cognitive component as well as behavioral responses.
B) is characterized by an increase in heart rate.
C) interferes with everyday behavior.
D) only take place when the actual object is present.

Question 61

Recent research into the possibility of a neurochemical basis for anxiety disorders has generated evidence that suggests that anxiety disorders may result from

A) disturbances in the neural circuits using norepinephrine.
B) disturbances in the neural circuits using GABA.
C) too much activity in the neural circuits using serotonin.
D) too little activity in the neural circuits using serotonin.

Question 62

The conditioning and learning explanation for the etiology of anxiety disorders best accounts for the development and maintenance of

A) phobic disorder.
B) panic disorder.
C) posttraumatic stress disorder.
D) generalized anxiety disorder.

Question 63

A person is shy,timid,and wary of others.Research suggests such a temperament put the person at risk for developing

A) schizophrenia.
B) a mood disorder.
C) a somatoform disorder.
D) an anxiety disorder.

Question 64

The anxiety disorder characterized by persistent,uncontrollable intrusions of unwanted thoughts and urges to engage in senseless rituals or behaviors is

A) posttraumatic stress disorder.
B) generalized anxiety disorder.
C) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
D) panic disorder.

Question 65

According to Mowrer,phobic responses are acquired through ____ conditioning and maintained through ____ conditioning.

A) classical; operant
B) classical; classical
C) operant; classical
D) operant; operant

Question 66

Ali has a psychological disorder,and her doctor has prescribed a drug that affects the levels of GABA in her nervous system.Based on this information,it is MOST likely that Ali is being treated for

A) a schizophrenic disorder.
B) an anxiety disorder.
C) a dissociative disorder.
D) a somatoform disorder.

Question 67

A concordance rate indicates

A) the percentage of twin pairs or other pairs of relatives who exhibit the same disorder.
B) agreement rates between physicians in diagnosing psychological disorders.
C) the degree to which psychological factors affect physical health.
D) the degree to which biological factors affect psychological adjustment.

Question 68

According to Seligman's concept of "preparedness," which of the following stimuli should one develop a phobia toward MOST easily?

A) chairs
B) monkeys
C) heights
D) certain numbers

Question 69

Kate constantly thinks about jumping in front of an oncoming car when she is walking.The only way she seems to be able to stop these self-destructive thoughts is to say Mother Goose nursery rhymes over and over to herself.In this case,Kate's symptoms are most consistent with

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) panic disorder.
C) bipolar disorder.
D) obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Question 70

The results of both twin and family studies suggest that for anxiety disorders

A) there is no evidence for heritability of anxiety.
B) there is a moderate genetic predisposition to anxiety disorders.
C) there is a strong genetic predisposition to anxiety disorder.
D) anxiety disorders do not run in families.

Question 71

Abnormalities in neural circuits that use ____ have recently been implicated in panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

A) dopamine
B) acetylcholine
C) serotonin
D) endorphin

Question 72

Typically,an individual who has which of the following anxiety disorders would be MOST successful in controlling her anxiety?

A) posttraumatic stress disorder
B) panic disorder
C) generalized anxiety disorder
D) phobic disorder

Question 73

Seligman's concept of preparedness best accounts for the development of

A) posttraumatic stress disorder.
B) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
C) an elevator phobia.
D) a spider phobia.

Question 74

Your friend's mother is afraid of squirrels.Although she knows squirrels are basically harmless,she cannot control her anxiety when she sees either a real squirrel or a picture of a squirrel.She never took your friend to the local park when he was a child because of the numerous squirrels.Your friend's mother has

A) panic disorder.
B) conversion disorder.
C) generalized anxiety disorder.
D) phobic disorder.

Question 75

Which of the following is NOT among the common symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder?

A) an increase in psychosomatic diseases
B) the presence of nightmares and flashbacks
C) an increased sense of vulnerability
D) increased problems with social relations

Question 76

Which of the following is NOT a common symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder?

A) problems in social relations
B) irrational thought
C) nightmares and flashbacks
D) emotional numbing

Question 77

Which temperament is characterized by shyness,timidity,and wariness?

A) choleric
B) inhibited
C) sanguine
D) pensive

Question 78

"Preparedness" is a term coined by Seligman that refers to

A) a biological predisposition to be easily conditioned to fear certain things.
B) the physical state or condition associated with a panic attack.
C) psychological processes that accompany obsessive-compulsive behavior patterns.
D) a particular type of learning situation in which negatively reinforced behaviors reduce the level of one's generalized anxiety disorder.

Question 79

Four years have passed since the death of Bill's eldest son,and still Bill experiences bouts of depression and anxiety when he thinks about the tragic accident that led to his son's death.This lingering depression and anxiety is characteristic of

A) burnout.
B) posttraumatic stress disorder.
C) Type A behavior.
D) amotivational syndrome.

Question 80

An anxiety disorder that typically follows a very painful event,and is characterized by a reliving of that event,avoidance of stimuli associated with the event,or numbing of general responsiveness is

A) generalized anxiety disorder.
B) conversion disorder.
C) panic disorder.
D) posttraumatic stress disorder.